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Science Market Update

Thomas Jefferson receives over 40 million in National Institute of Health (NIH) research funding each year. One of the projects supported by the NIH since 2011 has been an investigation into DNA viruses. This study recently yielded new insight into the two states of a viral protein and revealed its function as a DNA-sensor. This finding may serve as a road map for developing anti-viral therapy for pathogenic DNA viruses.

Each year, The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) at Jefferson University Hospital receives approximately $72 million in grants for cancer research from organizations such as Susan Komen for the Cure. This year the SKCC received a $3 million donation from Esperanza and David Neu in order to establish the Neu Center for Supportive Medicine and Cancer Survivorship. The purpose of the Neu Center is to serve as a comprehensive resource for psycho-social care and research.

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancers and is responsible for the most cancer deaths each year. Due to its prevalence, lung cancer is a point of study for many researchers around the world. Just this year, researchers from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have discovered that the gene Nitrilase 1 (Nit1) plays a large role in the proliferation of cancer cells.

Parkinson's Disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects people's motor functions. As of today, there are no cures for Parkinson's Disease, and treatments are only able to alleviate symptoms. Researchers across the nation are heavily studying the disease, with the goal of learning more about the onset and progress of the disease to help scientists develop treatment methods.

Imagine finally getting a knee replacement after dealing with years of crippling pain, only to develop a staph, or MRSA, infection at the surgery site. Not only is the pain still present, perhaps even worse, but rest of the body’s health is now at risk as well.

MicroRNA (miRNA) play an important role in controlling different processes that occur in cells through gene regulation. These small molecules are able to regulate many cellular processes by reducing target amounts in the cells. There are more than 1,900 locations in the human genome that are known to produce these miRNA molecules.

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University may have found the ticket to helping men fight prostate cancer more efficiently and over a longer period of time. While prostate cancer is usually treatable in its early stages, men affected with cancer that has metastasized into their bones have a greatly reduced chance of fighting the deadly disease.

Earlier this year, the Thomas Jefferson University Medical School received a remarkable donation of $110 million dollars. This donation, from the Sidney Kimmel Foundation, renamed the medical school to the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and will help enrich the school's facilities, students, faculty, and research.

Thomas Jefferson University is on the forefront of research lab science and healthcare development. Although the university is based in Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson administrators and research lab scientists envision the school breaking out into the global science research market. Dr. Stephen K. Klasko, president of Thomas Jefferson University, has an innovative plan to unite Thomas Jefferson University, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and the institution’s 800 physicians under a single entity.

This year the annual BioResearch Product Faire™ Event at Thomas Jefferson University will be held on campus in close proximity to researchers, research labs, and department adminstrators. This marks a change over the past few years when the show was held off campus at a local hotel. This event is open to Philadelphia area life science professionals interested in seeing the newest lab technologies available. This year the event will be held at the Bluemle Life Science Building where as many as 20 companies will be present to share their newest technologies with the Thomas Jefferson research community.